Best Buy Co., Inc. Hires New Vice President; VP of Industry and Public Affairs Named.

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2001

Best Buy Co., Inc., (NYSE:BBY) North America's largest consumer electronics retailer, today announced that Paula Prahl has joined the Company as Vice President of Industry and Public Affairs. In this newly created position, Prahl will be responsible for developing and executing plans, programs and initiatives designed to raise awareness of Best Buy's public affairs positions and messages.

"Paula brings a wealth of corporate public affairs experience to Best Buy," said Best Buy Investor Relations Officer and Sr. Vice President of Corporate Communications Susan Hoff. "In a time of tremendous growth of the Company, she will work with all of the Best Buy brands to establish cohesive public affairs, industry relations, community affairs, regulatory and government relations programs."

Prior to joining Best Buy, Prahl was with Honeywell for eight years where she worked most recently as vice president of government and community relations. Prior to Honeywell, she served as director of policy at the Minnesota Business Partnership. Prahl began her career in higher education administration, serving as director of student affairs at Wheaton College (MA).

Prahl has served as a board member in a number of organizations including: The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Foundation, The Boys and Girls Club of Minneapolis, The Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation and The National Association of Manufacturers Public Affairs Steering Committee.

The Sioux City, Iowa native holds a BA from Smith College and an MA from University of Minnesota.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is North America's number one specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances. The Company operates retail stores and commercial web sites under the names: Best Buy (BestBuy.com), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca); Magnolia Hi-Fi (MagnoliaHiFi.com), Media Play (MediaPlay.com), On Cue (OnCue.com), Sam Goody (SamGoody.com), and Suncoast (Suncoast.com). The Company reaches consumers through more than 1,800 retail stores in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.